Thai opposition wins big election victory

Thailand’s two main opposition parties have agreed to form a ruling coalition after securing a stunning election win over military-backed rivals that have controlled government for nearly a decade


THAILAND ELECTION PRELIMINARY RESULTS (99% of votes counted) 
Number of seats in 500-member House of Representatives*
 
Constituency seats	Party list seats


Move Forward Party (MFP) – led by Pita Limjaroenrat (right) – wants to reform Thailand’s strict royal insult laws, setting up potential clash with kingdom’s powerful royalist-military elite

151		141		71		40			
Move Forward	Pheu Thai	Bhumjaithai	Palang Pracharath	

36			25 			36
United Thai Nation	Democrat Party		Other parties

Voter turnout
75%                       


*400 constituency seats and 100 from party list system

  
MFP and Pheu Thai – led by Paetongtarn Shinawatra (left) – still face many hurdles to secure power due to military-drafted constitution

New Prime Minister: Chosen by House of Representatives, plus 250 senate members appointed by military
                                 

Sources: AFP, Bloomberg, Reuters 
Pictures: Getty Images 
© GRAPHIC NEWS